You're about to have a direct connection with Minka Kelly, Halle Berry and Sofia Vergara: your trainer. Body-sculpting guru Gunnar Peterson gave us his A-lister workout tips, and we don't have to say "trust us" that he gets results. And while yes, he is a tough-love hardass who'll push you to beat your best, he's also the kind of guy who can say this to why he has the perfect job: "It's watching people fall in love with the work, the feeling, and the results the same way I did when I went from a fat kid who couldn't control it, to the guy who loves training and piecing together effective programs. A lot of people need help getting to that place -- just like I did -- and I like to be the person alongside them, walking them through it, and supporting them." Well. Minka? Never let GP go.

What’s your Castaway workout? (Think: You’re stuck on a deserted island with no equipment. What do you do?)

“There’s so much you can do with bodyweight alone. The basics always come up for a reason: sit-ups, planks, push-ups. They’ll always give you results. The way to take it up a notch, is to compound the basics to work multiple muscle groups at once. So, if you’re going to do a burpee, make sure you’re doing a pushup at the bottom, and a tuck jump at the top. Take your basic rear lunge, and add a leg raise or kick on the way up. Lastly, running in the sand is a great form of cardio, and you don’t have to be stuck on a deserted island to do it!”

If you could tell women to stop doing one exercise, what would it be, and why?

“I wouldn’t. (Touche, Gunnar.) I might make corrections, but anything is better than nothing! Ok, here’s one: I might say not to do pushups on your knees. Even if you can’t do a FULL real push-up, I’d rather have you do them with a limited range of motion and work up to the perfect pushup then do them on your knees, where you probably won’t progress at the rate that you could.”

Your client’s wavering during her workout, and needs a psych-up phrase. You say:

“I really like battle ropes. They’re so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients like them because they’re a good way to get aggression out too. Had a bad day? Take it out on the ropes!”

Fill in the blank: The best fitness advice you’ve ever heard was from ____ and he/she said “______.”

“‘A little bit all the time is better than a lot every now and then.’ Wait, I think I said that.”

What’s your exercise kryptonite? (And, of course, why?)

“Nothing. Anything I hate or that crushes me I add to every workout until I fall in love with it. I always train my weaknesses and work on my shortcomings — in the gym AND outside the gym. Ha!”

“I mix tea, chia, blueberries, fiber and protein powder and put it in the freezer before my workout. When I’m done it has the consistency of a snow cone. I love it! That’s been my go-to post-workout meal for years.”

You’ve trained celebs, pro athletes and regular folks. What’s the one thing you want every client to do?

“I’ve actually got three prerequisites: 1. Be prepared to surprise your muscles with subtle tweaks and changes. 2. Always properly hydrate throughout a session. (I like Propel as a zero-calorie option that adds flavor). 3. Bring your A-game to every workout — and make sure it’s a capital A.”

OK, first move that pops to your head for sculpting insane abs, go!

“Planks with knee to elbow, then weighted cable crunches. New school + old school! Hold the plank for 30 seconds then touch your knee to the same-side elbow for 8 to 12 reps PER side. Follow that with kneeling weighted cable crunches [Ed note: Looks like this] and make sure to round your back like a Halloween cat and don’t let your hips and butt drift back at the bottom of the motion. You’re welcome.”